Organic candy company moves to Wheeling

TruSweets, a self-described “socially responsible” candy company founded in the Northwest suburbs is growing in sales and employees, and recently moved into a larger building in Wheeling.

The company moved from Prospect Heights to 686 Wheeling Road in Wheeling and attained organic certification for its new space.

It has been featured in Women's Health, The Food Network Magazine and The Wall Street Journal for its all-natural and allergen-free products.

TruSweets was founded three years ago by Lincolnshire resident Bert Cohen, and in 2008 the company acquired Surf Sweets. Today Cohen employees five people but plans on hiring more, he said.

“People wanted natural organic candies,” Cohen said. “And there weren't a lot of options out there.”

Cohen's products are made with organic sweeteners and contain no corn syrup, refined sugars, synthetic dyes -- which some studies suggest cause hyperactivity in children -- or artificial flavors.

Cohen has been involved in the natural food business for 10 years but he came up with the idea for TruSweets after his 3-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a peanut allergy. His mother also has food allergies, he said.

TruSweets LLC owns and operates two brands: TruSweets, one of the country's only organic candy canes, and Surf Sweets, a brand of organic and natural gummy candies and jelly beans. TruSweets launched the only organic candy cane on the market in time for the 2010 holidays and was carried nationally by Whole Foods.

Peapod.com also sells Cohen's products.

Besides being organic, the candy canes are corn syrup free, gluten free, vegan and kosher.

Cohen didn't disclose his company's exact sales figures, but did say it was “under $5 million” annually.